Pages

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Peppermint Bark

Then

Now

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Once upon a time there was a city that had a street that held a store that had a restaurant where the world's most beautiful Christmas tree stood. It happened that each year a parade was held to welcome a visitor from the polar region to the store that held the tree. Once inside, the old and red-robed guest held court in a kingdom where he had a throne surrounded by a train in which the young could ride, and an assembly of gnomes and fairies and candy canes that danced at his command. His council was sought by the well-dressed young and he was in great demand. There would, of course, be a private visitations, but before that could happen there were blocks of decorated windows in need of review, and a lunch to be had in that huge room with the magical tree. It was a day wondrous in every way and it is remembered so, even to this day.

My lovely memory of Christmas past was rudely jarred this past weekend and I'm putting Santa on report. I don't want to hear the world has changed or that times are different. Santa has clearly dropped the ball and some attitude adjustment is in order. What happened to the dress code? How can one pour out their collective soul to someone in pajamas and suspenders? That's not the worst of it. With a line that stretched clear to the high dessert, Santa decided to take an unscheduled coffee break, over and above the ones that are mandated by his union. The line, already packed with bored and tired tots, turned really ugly and Santa got exactly what he deserved on his return. I'm told photo sales for the day were down.

I needed something to sweeten my disposition after our outing and I had a new recipe for peppermint bark that I wanted to try. It uses light and dark chocolate and it sounded more interesting than the recipe I've been using. Bark is one of the easiest recipes in the Christmas repertoire. It is nothing more than melted chocolate into which peppermint candy is pressed. Over the years I've learned a trick that makes it really easy to make. Adding a 1/2 teaspoon of shortening to every ounce of chocolate makes it easier to spread. I'm told that butter or margarine, because of their water content, cannot be used in its place. Melted chocolate will seize if it comes in contact with liquids. Chocolate that has seized can sometimes be brought back by using shortening as well. I really like the new bark recipe and if you make candy for the holidays you might want to give it a try. Here's the recipe.

48 comments
:

Mary, would you like a laugh? When I was reading my mouth dropped! Suspenders????

Then I went back to the photo... how could she see that he was a cross-dresser? And then I remembered that in American English suspenders are braces (British English), for us here in NZ suspenders means garter belt!

So now you can think that your Santa could have been even worse :-)!!!

Santa in pajamas?!! What a rip! Ah well, at least the peppermint bark is sure to perk anyone up! I've made it before and adore the look and taste of it. Appreciate the tip of adding shortening to loosen it up. Have a great day!

Suspenders? Really? I'm with you Mary - Santa not in a his jolly red suite? Something is seriously wrong. BUT, I do love love love peppermint bark, so I might be able to forget all about suspenders! lol

I just came across the last special shopping bag from that special store that held the most beautiful tree--SOB!! I'm going to hang it on the door knob as a reminder of what was and what should be. A piece or two of your Peppermint Bark would lighten my mood I'm sure.

Great story, Mary---you'd think with unemployment so high they could get their pick of top notch Santas!I will try your trick with the shortening, especially with the white chocolate that sounds like it would be a help. I just love peppermint bark, it's my all time favorite.

A coffee Break? Sorry it spoiled your day. Was driving through your neck of the woods over the weekend and would have loved to cheer you up with my new unhousebroken Great Dane puppy! Love your pumpkin pecan bread....consuming some right now!

My mouth was watering as I read the method for the Peppermint Bark. My Auntie makes white bark every Christmas, I will share your recipe with her, as I am thinking she might enjoy it too. I pray Christmas & Santa is returned to us, in days long gone by when there was that twinkle in many of a child's eye.

Ah, that's too bad your Santa was less than professional. Glad you had a delicious treat to cheer things up. We do have a right jolly old elf Santa that wears red velvet knickers and suspenders with a patterned shirt each year and I've always loved him and thought that he was much less intimidating to the little ones than the big red suit. But everyone has their own personal preference. ☺

Site Meter

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third-parties nor does it store information about your visit for use other than to analyze content performance through the use of cookies, which you can turn off at anytime by modifying your Internet browser's settings. Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a a users prior visits to this website. Google's use of the DoubleClick cookie enables it and its partners to serve ads. This blog is not responsible for the republishing of the content found here on other Web sites or media without the owners permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice